Celebrate the opening of Weaving Narratives: African Textiles in Iowa at the Stanley Museum of Art.

Join us for an afternoon of opening remarks, performance, and refreshments as we celebrate the rich artistic traditions of African textiles and the vibrant African communities of eastern Iowa.

The reception includes a 20-minute performance by Gloria Sitso Ahlijah, Assistant Professor of African Contemporary Dance at the University of Iowa. The performance will be a West African form of contemporary dance that spotlights African performance and its cultural presence in Iowa city.

Through written materials and video-recorded interviews, the exhibition centers upon African textiles in the Stanley Museum of Art permanent collection and the voices from the African community in Iowa City.

This event is free and open to all. Visitors are invited to strengthen relationships, share cultures, and appreciate the incredible artistry that connects us all.

_{Image caption: Itjogolo/Ijogolo (marriage apron), Ndebele style, 20th century. Beads, brass, fiber, leather. The Roy and Sophie Sieber Collection, 342.2025. Unrecorded artist; South Africa.}